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Beijing: China is ready, to deepen Friendship and Cooperative relations with Afghanistan, says a government spokeswoman just after the Taliban took control of the country.
China shares a rugged 76-kilometer border with Afghanistan. Beijing has always feared that Afghanistan could become a staging point for the Muslim minority community Uyghur, separatists in Xinjiang. Last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a top-level Taliban delegation in Tianjin, promising that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militants. In exchange, China offered them economic investment and support for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, a country that has for generations been coveted for its geo-strategic importance by bigger powers. China said it wants to take the chance to deepen its ties with Afghanistan. "The Taliban have repeatedly expressed their hope to develop good relations with China, and that they look forward to China's participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters. "We welcome this. China respects the right of the Afghan people to independently determine their own destiny and is willing to continue to develop... friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan." Hua called on the Taliban to "ensure a smooth transition" of power and keep its promises to negotiate the establishment of an "open and inclusive Islamic government" and ensure the safety of Afghans and foreign citizens.
Beijing began evacuating Chinese citizens from Afghanistan months ago because of the deteriorating security situation although the Chinese embassy in Kabul still remains operational, Hua said.
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